Short Stories I Read In April

It’s the twenty-ninth of May. So it’s time to write about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in April.

Buried Deep by Naomi Novik (Buried Deep and Other Stories)

On the short fiction front, I started April by reading more from Novik’s short story collection, Buried Deep and Other Stories. This time, I tacked the titular story, Buried Deep. This one was a retelling of a Greek myth, reimagining the story of the Minotaur, Ariadne, and the labyrinth into a short tale about the bond between siblings and the unfortunate circumstances which the two found themselves in. It was a time period/society which didn’t leave them with many options either, and it was the kind of situation that was lose-lose no matter which way it was approached. That being said, Novik’s treatment of the myth offered an interesting spin. So Buried Deep was another good one from this collection.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Buried Deep and Other Stories)

And, finally, I reached the short story that was one of the reasons I picked up this collection to begin with. Spinning Silver is still one of my favorite wintery novels, and for the longest time I was curious about the original short story. And, I liked this version too. It was essentially a condensed version of the novel, especially the first few chapters—although the book greatly expanded on what happened and added the perspectives of Irina and Wanda. This narrative was much more straightforward and followed only Miryem and the consequences of her boasting. Spinning Silver is easily one of my favorites from Buried Deep and Other Stories.

From around the web…

• The Uselessness of Dachshunds [Maggie Stiefvater’s Substack]: I liked this essay about creating art even when it doesn’t have a specific value.

Short Stories I Read In April

It’s the twenty-ninth of May. So it’s time to write about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in April.

The God, Descendant by Amanda Helms (Uncanny Magazine; Issue Fifty-Seven)

The first piece I checked out in April was flash fiction by Amanda Helms called The God, Descendant. It’s a story about two gods, either rising or falling, who were locked in a seemingly never ending cycle inherent to their natures and names—only passing one another occasionally. Most of the story is contemplative, as the narrative is firmly rooted in the perspective of the Falling God. It’s a conversation between the two, as they questioned the state of, well, rising and falling, just as much as it was also about the answers (solution) they eventually arrived at. This was a relatively simple story, but I enjoyed it.

Afflictions of the New Age by Katherine Ewell (Uncanny Magazine; Issue Fifty-Seven)

The next short story I read was Afflictions of the New Age by Katherine Ewell. The story excels at atmosphere and certainly knew how to set up a scene, because it does start with a narrator who may or may not be reliable as well as a series of questions by authorities, which hinted at the overarching mystery of the situation (how the opening scene came to be). It doesn’t take long, however, for the narrative to delve into the context and implications behind the title. The prose and storytelling were simply engrossing, and I enjoyed the melancholic impression left by Afflictions of the New Age. After all, it’s a story of cures and illnesses as well as the unforeseen consequences of finding a way to live forever—but of losing one’s perception of time as well as a linear grasp on the order of memories in the process.

The Oldest Fun by Natalia Theodoridou (Clarkesworld Magazine; Issue 211; April 2024)

Next, I decided to see what Clarkesworld was publishing in April, and I ended up reading Natalia Theodoridou's The Oldest Fun. The quickest way I can sum up this story is: a deadlier form of Jumanji. The narrative implies the game is far older than what one might think, and it pulls in players in a way that can feel reminiscent to the classic movie. The Oldest Fun is, in the end, it's own tale with its own implications and context. I liked this story, particularly for the writing style and the smart twist toward the end—which made it memorable.

From around the web…

• Black Futuras: How Three Pop Divas Adapted the Image of Metropolis’ Maschinenmensch [Kristen Patterson; Tor.com; March 26, 2024]: A really great essay on Metropolis (1925), its iconic robot, and the modern interpretation of the meaning of the character by artists like Beyoncé and Janelle Monáe.
• Print Run Podcast Episode #169: We're Just a Bunch of Guys
• Considering the Perfect Knits of Coraline [Michelle Jaworski; Tor.com; April 11, 2024]: This is a nice article that discusses some of the miniature textile work done for the stop-motion adaptation of Coraline (2009), specifically for the titular character's iconic attire. 

Short Stories I Read In April

It’s the twenty-ninth of May. So it’s time to talk about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in April.

Your Wings a Bridge Across the Stars by Michelle Denham (Apex Magazine; April 6, 2023)

The first story I read in April was Michelle Denham’s Your Wings a Bridge Across the Stars. It was a really lovely read that seemed to be over far too soon. Part coming of age tale, this story explored love and duty through the eyes of Park Yunhee, who sought to understand the importance of the job of being one of the “Star’s Magpies.” With a setting brimming with magic and a folkloric atmosphere, there was so much I loved about this one.

Did You Hear About The Neighbors? By Seth Wade (Strange Horizons; Issue: 24 April 2023)

This next (and last) one I read in April isn’t short fiction but instead a piece of poetry. I happened to scroll through Strange Horizons, and, I was not only hooked by the first couple of lines of this poem, I devoured the rest of it! The imagery invoked was vivid and proved to be in excellent company with the somber feeling—some language leaned toward bleak. After all, it is a poem with themes about death. Still, it’s one of my favorite pieces of poetry that I’ve read this year.

From around the web…

• American Narnia: T. Kingfisher’s Summer in Orcus [Judith Tarr; Tor.com; April 11, 2023]
• Interview with Artist Dee Nguyen [Dee Nguyen; Apex Magazine; April 17, 2023]
• Gods, Monsters, and Totoros: Exploring Miyazaki’s Fantasy World [Austin Gilkeson; Tor.com; April 14, 2023]
• What the Universal Translator Tells Us About Exploring Other Cultures [Charlie Jane Anders; Tor.com; April 24, 2023]
• Brains In A Jar, Video Games In A Petri Dish [Priya Sridhar; Clarkesworld Magazine; Issue 199—April 2023]

Short Stories I Read In March & April

In March, I didn’t read many short stories, and the ones I did get to I didn’t have much to say about. So, I’m combining March and April’s short stories post into one. It’s the twenty-ninth of May. And it’s time to talk about all the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in March and April. 

Las Girlfriends Guide to Subversive Eating by Sabrina Vourvoulias (Apex Magazine; Issue 122, March 2021)

This one was an interesting read to go through. It was all about a specific place with a side bonus of some light magic elements. It read like a menu at times, but mostly it was kind of like a travel brochure. It was fun, and I liked the interactive choose-your-own-adventure style aspect.

Mouth by Sasha Lapointe (Strange Horizons; Issue: 1 March 2021)

The second and final story I read in March was Mouth by Sasha Lapointe. This was a fantastic story. I really don’t want to say too much about it, because it’s better to experience it yourself. What I will say is that I liked how the author approached the themes of the story. It was straight to the point, and well written.

Masquerade Season by ‘Pemi Aguda (Tor.com; March 24, 2021)

To start April, I went back and read one of the short stories I was meaning to read the month prior. Masquerade Season by ‘Pemi Aguda was a beautiful story about masquerades, a boy, and his mother. It explores what it means to be a “good child” and when love and care crosses the boundary into something a little more sinister with opportunistic manipulation. The questions posed by the story of right and wrong, boundaries, and difficult decisions were all around handled well. I can’t recommend this one enough.

Mysteries of Visiocherries/Misteri Visciceri by Rio Johan (Strange Horizons; Issue: April 26 2021)

The second and last short story I read in April was Mysteries of Visiocherries by Rio Johan. Here we have another story with mixed media type content. It was about an incident that took place in a laboratory involving a fire and a disappearance. It reads like a case file put together after the aforementioned occurrence took place, and I liked Johan’s approach to the thematic elements. I mean, for a story about bioengineered fruit, it had some surprisingly eerie moments. And the overall feel was one that leaned towards a somewhat cautionary tone.
 
From around the web…

• Understanding Horses: Trust Between Human and Animal (Judith Tarr; Tor.com, March 8, 2021)
• Print Run Podcast episode 138: Literary Survival
• Our Opinions Are Correct episode 80: How to write a fight scene
• Advertising for Burglars: Lord Dunsany’s “How Nuth Would Have Practiced His Art Upon the Gnoles” (Anne M. Pillsworth and Ruthanna Emrys; Tor.com, March 31, 2021)
• Print Run Podcast episode 139 (Taste and Agency) & 140 (Speculation on the Speculative)